TiO2-ZrO2 binary oxide supported palladium catalysts were prepared and evaluated for the catalytic combustion of methane at low temperature. Although XRD patterns of TiO2-ZrO2 binary oxides show individual anatase TiO2 and monoclinic ZrO2 peaks without shift, the combination of TiO2 and ZrO2 obviously favors the catalytic performance. Catalyst Pd/TiZr2 has activity much higher than Pd/TiO2, even higher than Pd/ZrO2, which is one of the most active catalysts for methane combustion. The results of TPR and O-18-isotope exchange experiments demonstrate that the excellent activity of Pd/TiZr2 is due to its high oxygen mobility and moderate reducibility, which is in accordance with our previous work. XPS results indicate that the dispersion of Pd has little influence on the catalytic activity. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.